Word Origin & History

sight O.E. gesiht, gesihð "thing seen," from P.Gmc. *sekh(w)- (cf. Dan. sigte, Swed. sigt, M.Du. sicht, Du. zicht, O.H.G. siht, Ger. Sicht, Gesicht), stem of O.E. seon (see see). Meaning "perception or apprehension by means of the eyes" is from early 13c. Meaning "device on a firearm to assist in aiming" is from 1580s; the verb in this sense is from 1842."Verily, truth is sight. Therefore if two people should come disputing, saying, 'I have seen,' 'I have heard,' we should trust the one who says 'I have seen.' " [Brhadaranyaka Upanishad 5.14.4]Sight for sore eyes "welcome visitor" is attested ...from 1738; sight unseen "without previous inspection" is from 1892. Sight gag first attested 1957.